Tosogu Kanteisho Terminology

[kyushukairu]

I have taken the time to complie a list of commonly encountered terms on NBTHK tōsōgu kanteisho. More specifically, the physical attributes which are listed after the description/ theme and attribution. My reason for putting these terms together is twofold:

 

Firstly, a lot of diligent members put in the effort to try and figure out what is written on kanteisho before asking members for clarification. For such people, this will provide a quick reference to check common terms in the description to aid their own progress. 

 

Secondly, when members ask for a translation their reason is usually to obtain further information about the item which has been appraised. In such a case, translators (including myself) often only provide the description/ theme and attribution, since there isn’t much need to describe what can be seen. Should such members become curious about the other characters on a kanteisho they will be able to find them here. 

 

I would like to note that this is by no means an exhaustive list, but common terms which I found on kanteisho of tōsōgu in my own collection [I realise there are dozens of other tsuba shapes which I have not included]. And as such, I encourage members to add any further terms which they may encounter. Also, the English translations in brackets are mostly direct translations to explain the work/technique, rather than a definitive account. 

 

For convenience, I have listed the terms in order of appearance on the kanteisho. That is, after the description/ theme of the tsuba, is the mei or attribution [on some menuki the way the signature is applied is given], this is followed by the shape [for tsuba], the material the item is made from, the style of carving, the method of inlay, and the style of the rim [on tsuba].

 

Way of signing [on menuki]

短冊銘 - tanzaku-mei (signed on an inserted plaque)

割根先銘 - warinesaki-mei (signed on the support post) 

 

Shape [of tsuba]

丸形 - maru-gata (round)

竪丸形 - tate maru-gata (oblong round)

撫丸形 - nade maru-gata (smooth round)

木瓜形 - mokko-gata (four lobes)

角形 - kaku-gata (square)

撫角形 - nade kaku-gata (smooth square)

菊花形 - kikka-gata (chrysanthemum)

車形 - kuruma-gata (wheel)

葵形 - aoi-gata (hollyhock)

泥障形 - aori-gata (saddle)

変り形 - kawari-gata (unusual)

椀形 - wan-gata (domed/bowl)

 

Material

鉄地 - tetsu-ji (iron)

赤銅地 - shakudō-ji (copper mixed with gold)

素銅地 - suaka-ji (copper)

四分一地 - shibuichi-ji (copper mixed with silver)

山銅地 - yamagane-ji (unrefined copper)

真鍮地 - shinchu-ji (brass)

金無垢地 - kinmuku-ji (solid gold)

 

Surface

磨地 - migaki-ji (polished)

魚子地 - nanako-ji (fish eggs)

石目地 - ishime-ji (stone)

槌目地 - tsuchime-ji (hammered)

斜鑢地 - shayasuri-ji (diagonal filing)

Openwork

地透 - ji-sukashi (openwork)

影透 - kage-sukashi (silhouette openwork)

 

Carving

肉彫 - niku-bori (dimensional carving)

高彫 - taka-bori (high relief carving)

容彫 - katachi-bori (shaped) [common for menuki]

片切り彫 - katakiri-bori (half-cut carving)

毛彫 - ke-bori (hair line carving)

鋤出彫 - sukidashi-bori (dug away carving)

深彫 - fuka-bori (deep carving)

甲鋤彫り - kōsuki-bori (shell-shaped carving)

倶利彫 - guru-bori (level carving)

 

Decoration

象嵌 - zōgan (inlay)

金象嵌 - kin-zōgan (gold inlay)

平安城象嵌 - Heianjō-zōgan (brass inlay)

素銅象嵌 - suaka-zōgan (copper inlay)

布目象嵌 - nunome-zōgan (crosshatch overlay)

色絵 - iro-e (colour overlay)

金銀色絵 - kingin iro-e (gold and silver colour overlay)

 

Rim [on tsuba]

丸耳 - maru-mimi (round)

角耳 - kaku-mimi (square)

土手耳 - dote-mimi (piped)

打返耳 - uchigaeshi-mimi (bevelled)

鋤残耳 - sukinokoshi-mimi (carved down)

覆輪耳 - fukurin-mimi (metal band)

鋤出耳 - sukidashi-mimi (dug away)

[Bugyotsuji]

Kyle, that's a fantastic resource. It might need further tweaking and additions here and there, but a great venture. Thank you.

 

I've not read through the entire thing but a couple of suggestions bubbled up. Is 素銅 not usually read Su-aka(?), and 平安城 is missing the castle, for example. 

 

Oh, and I bought my first ever 椀形・椀型 Wangata tsuba yesterday! 

[kyushukairu]

Thanks for the second set of eyes, Piers! I’ve now fixed those two typos. In academia, we say that the best form of proof-reading is submission - it’s always after you have submitted an essay that you then notice the errors.

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Always a top fella Kyle!

[Brian]

Awesome. With your permission, I'd like to add that to the translation quick list at the top of the forum.

[kyushukairu]

You’re too kind, Jesse 

Yes, of course Brian. Please do! Also, it might be a good idea to pin it to the translation forum so it’s easily accessible here?

[Brian]

It's on the main page, top right where the translation pop-ups are. Easily accessible and very, very useful.
I guess we need to work on a swords one now

[Shugyosha]

Here's something to get you going, this is a glossary I compiled for myself - apologies for the formatting and the way it is copied across:

Types of sword

 

太刀 – Tachi

刀 – Katana

脇差 – Wakizashi (alternative 脇指)

短刀 – Tanto

槍 – Yari (alternative 鑓)

薙刀 – Naginata

長巻 – Nagamaki

 

 

Sword shapes

 

造込み – Tsukurikomi – The shape of the sword as a whole

姿 – Sugata – figure, form, shape

鎬造 – Shinogi zukuri

平造 – Hira zukuri

菖蒲造 – Shobu zukuri

鵜 の 首 造 – Unokubi zukuri

 

冠落とし 造 – Kanmuri otoshi zukuri

両刃造 – Ryoba zukuri

片切刃造 – Katakiri zukuri

Dimensions

 

刃長 or 長さ– Hachō or nagasa – length of cutting edge

幅 – Haba – width

身幅 – Mihaba - width (alternatively 身巾)

 

元幅 – Motohaba – width at the part nearest the tang

先幅 – Sakihaba – width at the yokote

元重 ね– Motokasane – breadth at the machi

先重ね – Sakikasane – breadth at the yokote

反り – Sori - depth of curvature (腰 – koshi – deepest nearest the tang, 鳥居 – torii – deepest in the middle or 先 – saki – deepest nearest the tip)

厚 (ku) – Atsu(ku) – thick/ thickness

差 – Sa – difference

深 – fuke – deep (re sori)

踏張り – Funbari – noticeable widening of the blade at the machi

部分 – Bubun – section or part

Units of measurement

 

尺 – Shaku (30.3cm)

寸 – Sun (3.03cm)

分 – Bu – (3.03mm)

厘 – Rin (0.3mm)

Parts of the sword

 

鋒 – kissaki – point

帽子 – Bōshi – shape of hamon within the kissaki

中子 or 茎 – Nakago – tang (alternative means “stem”)

尻 – Jiri – butt (of tang nakago jiri)

 

棟 – mune

横手 – Yokote

三つ角 – mitsukado

区 – machi – notches just before tang

刃文/刃紋 – hamon – hardened edge of sword

焼(き)刃 – Yakiba – hardened edge of sword

焼頭 – yakigashira – start of the hardened edge of the sword

地肌 – Jihada – texture of folded metal above the hamon; also

鍛え – Kitae – forging

佩表 – Haki omote – side of sword facing outwards when worn

佩裏 – Haki ura – side of sword facing the body when worn

鑢目 – Yasurime – file marks on tang

目釘穴 – Mekugi ana (sometimes “ana” = 孔) – hole in tang for retaining peg

個 – Ko – Counter for mekugi ana

Types of forging pattern

 

板目肌 – Itame hada – wood grain

杢目肌 – Mokume – wood burl grain

綾杉肌– Ayasugi hada – wavy pattern

柾目肌– Masame hada – straight grain

梨子地肌 – Nashiji hada – pear skin pattern

小糠肌 – Konuka hada – rice bran pattern

松皮肌 – Matsukawa hada – pine bark pattern

肌立 – Hada tachi – hada that stands out

流れ – nagare - flowing

Types of hamon

 

乱れ – Midare – irregular pattern

直刃 – Suguba – straight hamon

互の目 – Gunome – half-circle pattern

尖刃 – Togariba – pointed pattern

濤瀾乱刃 – Toranba – irregular rolling wave pattern

飛焼 – tobiyaki – hardened areas above the hamon

皆焼 – hitatsura – “everything hardened”

Effects within the ji and hamon

 

暗帯 – antai - the dark areas between nioiguchi and border of the utsuri

段映り – Dan utsuri – utsuri comprised of various layers

地斑映り- jifu utsuri – if jifu spots appear all over the blade and form a pattern this term is used. It is rare and hardly appears after the nambokucho period but is typical for Ko-Bizen, Un group and Aoe swords.

景刃文 – kage hamon – shadow hamon: another name for utsuri

匂 – Nioi – small, indistinct martensite crystals (think of the milky way)

沸 or 錵 – Nie – martensite crystals that can be seen individually (think of individual stars within the milky way)

出来 – Deki – manufacture, style (used in combination with nie or nioi indicating predominantly one or the other.

足 – Ashi – Feet

金筋 – Kinsuji – black line of nie in the hamon (if straight)

稲妻 – Inazuma – literally lightning bolt – kinsuji that are zigzag shaped

砂流し – Sunagashi – brushed sand effect

湯走り – Yubashiri – “hot running water” – formations of ji nie

地景 – Chikei – “Shadows in the steel”- black lines of nie in the Ji – the same substance as kinsuji

縮緬 – chirimen – crepe paper (chirimen hada refers to a style of forging pattern in the Aoe school)

 

Carvings

 

棒樋 – Bo hi – a single straight groove

 

添樋 – Soe bi – “accompanying groove”- single narrow groove below a bo hi

止め – Dome – the end of a groove

丸止め – Maru dome – round end of a groove ending before the habaki

掻く – Kaku – to scratch (re making of groove)

梵字 – bonji – Sanskrit symbol

素剣 – suken – carving unadorned sword

 

 

Nakago

 

磨上 – Suriage - shortened

 

 

 

Styles of yasurimei

 

鑢目 – Yasurime – file marks

 

大筋違 – Osujikai – greatly slanting file marks

化粧 – Keshō – “Make up”- style of yasurimei occurring in the Shinto period and later

 

刻む – Kizamu – To engrave

Time

 

年紀 – Nenki – date/ period

年号 – Nengo – Generic name for the Japanese eras corresponding to the reign of an emporer

時代 – Jidai – era or age – can refer to a nengo era.

 

鎌倉– Kamakura [jidai]

南北朝 – Nambokucho – Northern and southern courts period

室町 – Muromachi

安土桃山 – Azuchi-Momoyama

江戸 – Edō

幕末 – Bakumatsu – end of Edo period “end of Bakufu”

現代 – Gendai - modern

前期 – Zen Ki – Early period

後期 – Kō ki – late period

歳 – Sai – Years of age (suffix)

[Brian]

Great! Will start compiling that one too. Great resource. Thanks.

[DirkO]

some small additions:
 

Regarding jidai:
初期 - shoki - early
中期 - chuki - mid
末期 - makki - late

 

Regarding inlay:
銀象嵌 - gin-zōgan - silver inlay
平象嵌 - hira-zōgan - flat inlay (flush)
据文象嵌 - suemon-zogan (to inlay a separately made design or motif)

 

Regarding openwork:
糸透 - ito-sukashi (line/thread openwork)
小透 - ko-sukashi (small sukashi)

 

Regarding surface:
阿弥陀鑢目 - amida-yasurime - radiating lines starting from the center
時雨鑢目 - shigure-yasurime - slanting lines that resemble rain

[Brian]

Thanks Dirk! Will add them now. Very useful indeed.